Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and other players for leaving Old Trafford before the end of the club’s final pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano last weekend, describing the behaviour as ‘unacceptable’.
Ronaldo only played the first half and was later pictured seen by fans outside heading away from the stadium while the game was still going on. Diogo Dalot, who wasn’t involved in the game after playing just 24 hours earlier in a friendly against Atletico Madrid, was also seen in those images.
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It was unclear at the time as to whether Ronaldo and others had permission to go, but now Ten Hag has responded and is not happy.
“I certainly don’t condone this. This is unacceptable. For everyone,” he told Viaplay.
“We are a team and you have to stay until the end.”
Poor attitude was among the main complaints levelled at United players last season, with successive managers in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick unable to get the best out of what is otherwise a very talented squad.